Shear seal valve



Jan. 19, 1965 G. HINDERER ETAL 3,166,097

SHEAR SEAL vVALVE Filed Nov. 17. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 6o ga.

l 25 www 44 1 I l I L l 6077105 AIM/DEEE@ RALPH E. lilo/ep INVENTORS BYZ/m. Mge,

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Jan. 19, 196-5 G.H1NDERER ETL SHEAR SEAL VALVE 5' Sheets-Sheet -3 Filed Nov. 17. l961 INVENTORS.

BYZ/m rraPA/Eys.

Jan. 19, 1965 G. HINDERER ETAL 3,166,097

SHEAR SEAL VALVE Filed Nov. 17. 1961 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Garn. 06 /NDEQEA? nLpf/ E. 72.102,0

INVENTORS.A

BYZM and Z/d/m rraQA/Eys.

Jan. i9, E965 cs.A HINDERER ETAI.

VSl-IEIR SEAL VALVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 17. 1961 ornos /NoEeE/rz .1Q/MPH EL ZZ/oep INVENTORS.

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back to the-imported area.

. 2215EA??? Smink Sil-ALVALVE Gottiob iii-nderer, Syimar, and E. Thorp, Giendale, Caii., assignors to Price-Pinter Brass Mfg. Co., Los Angeies, Calif., a corporation of California liied Nov. i7, 1961, Ser. No. 153,31? 6 Ciairns. (Si. E37- 62557) the G-ring moves past a controlled port of the seat structure.

In the past, O-rings used in this manner failed after relatively few cycles of operation due to the severe shearing force imposed Von the O-ring as it attempts to move Some suggestion has heretofore been made that by arranging the liow direction in a particular manner, the liuid force could be utilized to keep the O-ring more or less coniined in its seat so i that it readily passes beneaththe port edge. While the life of the valve is improved somewhat, failure inevitably results after seemingly short use.

An object of this invention is to provide a shear seal of this general character that is capable of millions of cycles. of operation. in order to accomplish this result, use is made of a smooth Telion O-ring in place of the conventional rubber or equivalent O-ring;` Teilen has unusual characteristics in this organization.V It is smooth enough to rolly about the axis of its section, and v elongate under the influence of the reactive forces until theV ring, reduced in section by elongation, passes readily under the trailing edge of the port.

In a valve of this character, only slight angular move- United states Patent ment critically moves the valve ports of the seat andV closure out of and into registry. Another object'of this invention is to provide a port configuration that reduces the critical nature of the valve movement and that also can be easily made by conventional manufacturing techniques. For this purpose, the closure port is provided with a whistle slot formed by a simple transverse milling operation with a beveiled cutter.

Another object of this invention is toV provide simplified proportioning and volume control valves utilizing dynamically operating O-ring shear seals.

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnproved internal stop arrangement in valve structures of this character.

Thisv invention possesses many other advantages, and

has other objects which may be made more clearly apparentV from a consideration of several embodiments ofV the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the `drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present speciiication, and which drawings, unless described as diagrammatic, or unless as otherwise indicated, are true scale. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE. l is a fragmentary vertical sectional whew-of a lavatory fixture incorporating the present invention;V

y ing the valve apparatus of FIG. 1, the valve being open;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken aiong aplane corresponding to line ,3 -3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the Vvalve in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional YView taken along a plane corresponding to line 5 5 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are pictorial views of the movable closure structure and the valve controlling O-rin'g;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic developed view illustrating of a mixing valve FIG. 13 is a pictorial View of closure structure form- Y inga part of the present invention;

FIG. lLl-vis an enlargedsectional view taken alongV a r plane corresponding to line i--idof FIG. l0;

FIG. 15 is a View similar to FIG. 14, but illustrating the valve parts in a diiierent position; Y FIG. 16 is an axial sectional view of another valve incorporating they present invention;

FiG. 17 is a sectional View take along corresponding to line of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a pictorial view of the closure structure; and

FIG.- i9fis afragmentary sectionalview taken along a plane'corresponding to Vline-i9 i9 of FIG. 16.

In 'FIGURE .1, there is illustrated ya lavatory fixture Vgenerally designated as it), installed vat a sink or deck il. A brass castingiZ forms the essential passage forming part of the fixture 10.

an oiisetl plane The casting has a passage 13 thatA terminates .at op-V posite ends in generally circular enlargements 1dand i5, respectively. On the top of the valve body three bosses 16, I7, and 13 are provided. The boss 16 is located at the center of the body i2, and has an aperture i9 extending to the passage i3 and at which a swing spout 2@ is fitted. The bosses V1K7 and 18 have axes generally coaxial with Vthe respective circular passage enlargements 14 and i5. Av threaded opening 21 is formed through the boss to the top of thel passage port 14. v

A boring tool forms a coaxialj recess 22. at the bottom of the passage port. Ai generaliy cylindrical Valve body Z3 isdesigned to be inserted into the casting and to fit the recess 22 and the threaded opening 22.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional View show- 'f The boss I8 is similarly provided with an opening as at 24, and a coaxial recess ZSor accommodating a similar valve body 2e.'

The casting l2 hasinlet extensions 27 andZ located beneath the recesses 22 and 2S and the corresponding valve bodies 23 and 25. These inlet extensions'cooperateV with hot and cold water supply lines, Vand project beneath the sink or deck 1l in a conventionalmanner'. The valvev bodies 23v and 26 are respectively interposed between passages 23 and Sti ofthe inlet extensions and the-main casting passage 13 that communicates with the spout 2t?. l v v A 'detailed description of onev of the valve structures will suice as a description V'of the other since both are identical. i r* The inlet passage 29 communicates at its upper end with an opening 3i in the bottoniV of the recess22 at which the body is accommodated. The body defines a path between the inletpassageZQ and themai'n casting passage by the aid of a through axial bore 32and a lateral port- 33 located at the level of the circular passage enlarge-` ?aitented Jari. 19,V .1965

f) D ment 14. By virtue of the circular enlargement 14, communication is independent of the angular position of the valve body 23 in the casting 12.

VA ow restricting gasket or washer 34 is interposed between the bottom of the recess 22 and the body 23.

In order yto control the communication between the lower inlet end of the body 23 and its lateral outlet 33,

a closure structure is provided at its upper end `to titV ment with the body bore 32 above and below the .lateral Ioutlet; port 33. The upper sealing ring prevents upward passage of water from the outlet 33 along the stem.

35. The lowersealing ring 41 prevents passage of water from the inlet end of the body 23 to the outlet, except through the closure 3S.

The closureY 35 thus has a passage 42 that extends axially upwardly from its lower end; thence laterally to the outer surface' of the closure at the level of the body outlet port 33. VThe axial part 43 of the closure passage-v way 42 is formed cylindrically, and registers with the inlet passage 29. The lateral part is formed as a slot 44.

The'slot 44 is Vformed by the removal of a wedgeshaped segmentfrom the periphery of the closure 3S.

downwardly facing surface bounding the upperside of the slot. The other plane extends obliquely upwardly from the closure periphery, `and generally at an angle of 45 to the closure axis to define the oblique surface 45. Surfaces 45 and 46 both intersect the cylindrical passageway part 43 ,whereby the slot 44 as a whole forms an enlarged outlet end of the passageway 42., n

The lower outer edge of the oblique surface46, as illustrated in FIG. 2, falls at the level of the lower portion of the 'circularbody outlet 33.

Y In practice, the slot 44 is formed by amilling operation using a bevelled tool. j

Extending along the exterior of the closure -35 is a Telion sealing ring 47 that engages the body 32. This ring 47 extends in an obliquely oriented groove 48 located beneath and paralleling the oblique surface 46 of the slot 44, The Teflon ring 47 extends to a point beneath the ment is isolated from the inlet, or sealed.

In vthe position of FIGS. 2 and 5, the lateral outlet port 33 of the body 23 communicates with the upper wedgeY segment and thus with the inlet.

in FIG. 2, and to the position of FIG. 9, the Teon O-ring 47 passes across the outlet port 33 and places the outlet port 33 in communication with the lower wedge segment.,V

Thus theV outlet is sealed. j j The groove 4S'in ywhich the Teon ring 47 Vis accommodated is wide enoughV to allow'theV ring 47 Vto roll therein. The ring 47 is slightly compressed in the body bore 32.k VHo'weveijthe ring 47 .is normally not circumferentially stressed in the groove 48. As the ring 47 Upon angular move-Y ment of the closure 35 away from thejposition illustrated and in the process, stretches as the Alength exposed at the i opening diminishes until the ring passes the opening 33.

Due to the configuration of the slot 44, the outlet open- *ing is gradually opened and closed upon angular movement of the closure 35., and as illustrated in FIG. 8. The area of the slot 44 at the periphery of the closure 35 is .depicted in developedfashion and at several positions relative to the outlet 33. l

In the present example, the lateral outlet 33 occupies an angular span of roughly 45. If the slot 44 were circular and of the size at least as great as that of the lateral outlet 33, then movement of the closure through an angle f 45 would be necessary to move the valve from closed to open, or from open to closed, because upon movement in one direction the same portion of the edge that initially intersects the outlet opening 33`would be the same portion that finally intersects the opening 33. However, in the arrangement depicted, that portion 44a of the leading edge of the slot 44 which initially intersects the opening 33, is located angularly well in advance otthat portion 4417 of the edge which is the last to inter-A sect the slot. Accordingly, a 90 movement is required for initial opening to full opening of Vthe outlet 33.

The valve closure 33 has delined limits of movement.

' VCne of the limits corresponds to the fully open position illustrated in FIGS. l, 2 and. 5, and the other limit cor-` responds to the fullyclosed position of FIG. 9. These positions are separated more than 90 to ensure that in closed position the ring V47 is well away from the outlet 33. Thus the limits are separated roughly by 125.

The lower end of the closure 34 has a radial projection 49 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 6) that; operates in the slot 49a formed about the end of the body bore 32. The angular extent of the slot-49a, less the angular span `of the projection 47 is 125 to allow that movement. The projection'49 and slot 49a are so oriented relative to the slot 44Vand outletr33 as to determine, appropriately, the relative positions of the slot 44 and outlet 33 at the limits defined by the projection 49 and slot 49a.

The body 23, together with the closure 35, and'thus.

-all parts forming operative parts of the dynamicseal, are removable as a unit. To accomplish removal, the body 23 Vis rotated to cause separationfrom the threaded VYopening 22. The valve body 23 is provided with a non-circular flange 50 at the upper end of the body threads. This j flange is cooperable with a suitable tool to facilitate rotation;V A sealing ring 51 is clamped between the casting 12 and ange 5G to establish a seal.

In the form illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 15, armixer valve structure is illustrated that is capableof proportion and volume adjustment.V

A-body casting 52 Yprovides an upwardly opening gen- ,V erally cylindrical recess 53. The casting is intended to be accommodated in a wall with only the end of the castingrat the recess kopening projecting from the wall. In the cylindrical recess 53, a removable valve unit is accomymodated. The valve unit includes a hollow body 54 that passes through the leading yedge of the opening 33, it eX- trudes slightly therein. As itpasses thev trailing edge of the opening 33,'the Teon ring rolls underneath the edge,

lines the recess 53. YThe ,body 54 has two Vaxially spaced lateral openings 55 and 56 located on oppositesides of the body axis.l These openings communicate with valigned hot water and cold water inlet passages 57 and 58 formed at opposite sides of the base of the body casting 52. The inlet passages 57. and 58 have upward extensions 57a and 53a.

The cylindrical bore 59 of the body to which the openings 55 and 56 extend, opens at itslower end to comand the conduit 60.

In order to hold the body YS4 in place, a bonnet 63 is provided. rlfhe .bonnet eng/ages threads Vformed on the upper end of the Vcasting `52, and clamps a flange '64 formed at the top of the body, against the casting 52. A sealing ring 65 between the parts provides a seal. The bonnet .itself is exterior-ly threaded for cooperation vu'th a decorative collar or escutcheon.

Cooperable with the inlets 55 and 5d is a valve closure 66 accommodated in, and rotatable -in Vthe cylindrical recess 59 of the body V54. The closure 65 has a reduced stem 67 that passes upwardly through a restricted opening 68 formed in the upper end of the cylindrical recess 59, and through the bonnet 63. A handle d is fastened to the end of the stem S7 whereby the valve is manipulated.

The closure 66 is axially movable in the recess, and between limits provided by the upper end of body recess 59 (FIG. 14) and the partition wall 61 (FIG. 15).

The closure 56 has three y'axially spaced sealing rings 70, .71, and 72. The sealing rings 70 and 71 are located on opposite sides of the inlet 55 whatever may be the axial position of the closure, and the sealing rings 71 and 72 are similarly located on opposite sides of the inlet 56. Between the sealing rings 70 `and 71 the closure 66 lhas a Wedge-shaped slot 73 that cooperates with the opening 55. The closure also has a wedge-shaped slot 74 1ocated between the sealing rings 71 and 72 that cooperates with the inlet 55. The slots 73 and 74 have conilgurations similar to the slot 44 of the closure in the form just described. However, the oblique portions of the slots lie above the perpendicular portions ofthe slots. The slots 73 and 74 lare located one above the other and have an operative angular extent of about 180. Since the inlets 55 and 56 are located in 180 relationship, rotation of the closure 66 serves oppositely tov adjust the registry of the slots with their corresponding inlet ports 55 and 56.V A downwardly opening axial recess 75 of the closure passes water entering via slots 73 and 74 to the discharge conduit (56. O-rings 76 and 77 of Teilon material are respectively accommodated in oblique grooves just above the slots 73 and 74. Y

Since the controlling O-rings 76 and 77 extend oblique to the axis of the closure,V axial movement of the closure will alect the degree of opening of the corresponding inlet just as angular movement affects the degree of opening.

Thus, in order to control the combined volume of dow through the inlets 55 and 56, the valve closure 66 is axially moved, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In the inwardmost position of the closure 66, the Q-rings 76 and 77 are entirely beneath their corresponding inlet openings 55 and 56 land thus isolate the slots 73 and 74 therefrom Whatever may be the angular orientation of the closure. In the opposite position of FIG. 14, the O-rings 76 and 77 extend both above and below their corresponding inlets, and full registry of slots 73 and 74 is possible. Between these limits, the degree of registry may be restricted. A volume and proportion control is accordingly achieved.

A lateral projection 78 formed on the stem (FIG. l2)

cooperates with an enlarged groove 79 in the upper end of therbody 54 in order to deiineropposite limits to the angular movement of the closure. These limits correspond to full ycold and full hot.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. V16 to 19, a closure structure 81 is provided that is similar to the closure of the previous form. The closure V81 is accommodated in body structure $2 in such-'manner that it is permitted only angular movement therein.

The closure S1 has two wedge-shaped slots S3 and S4 one above the'other that cooperate with inlets 85 and 35 of the body structure 82. The slots 83 and 84 in this instance'span 'an angle of approximately 90. Thus the dieses? The 90 span of inlets and slots allows for the closureV to be'moved to a position (FIG. 17) in which both inlets are closed.

Adjoining the base of the stem 87 of theclosurezl is a projection 88 (FIG. 19) that works ina groove 39 formed in the bottom of the cylindrical body recess `9i). The ends of the groove S9 are so situated that at one limit, the valve is inV a position corresponding to full hot and at the other limit (FlG. 17) in a closed position beyond full cold.

`In order to allow the inlets d5 and $6 to be disposed at 90 relationship with respect to each other in a body casting 91 that has inlets 92 and 93 coaxially located on opposite sides, .the periphery of the body 82 is Vprovided with `a peripheral inlet extension 94, one end of which registers with an upward extension 95 ofthe inlet passage 92. The other inlet 86 directly registers with an upward extension96 of the other inlet v93. I

The inventors claim: Y V1. In a valve structure for controlling the owzof'uid:

a valve;V body having provisions fork attachment at anAv opening of a .member with one end of the body Within the member; said'body providing an interior space of substantially circular cross-section and a lateral valve port extending from said Vspace exteriorly of Athe body; a closure mounted in and supported at the interior space and having an interior chamber; saidclosure having a slot extending from the periphery of said closure to said interior chamber, the slot being defined substantially byupper and lower intersecting planes both transverse to the axis of the closure and diverging outwardly Vfrom each other from an area of intersection; the projected line or intersection of said planes being located adjacent the axis of said closure and substantially perpendicular thereto; the said projected line of intersection being located axially beyond the lateral Valve port of said body; substantially the entire space between the planes on one side of saidV intersection'line being open; one of said planes being oblique tothe closure and sweeping across said lateral valve port as the closure is angularly moved; an oblique sealing ring mounted peripherally of the said closure, and substantially paralleling said one oblique plane for corresponding traverse across said lateral valve port; and seal means co-- operating with said sealing ring to define avsealed space on the periphery of said closure to, which said lateralV valve port is exposed when said slot is'out of registry with said lateral valve port.

2. The combination as set forth in lclaim 1 in which said sealing ring is made of material having the toughness characteristics of Teflon.

3. In a valvepstructure for controlling the llow of fluid: a valve body having provisions for attachment at an opening of a member with one end of the body within the member; said body having an interior space of substantiallyrcircular cross-section and a pair of lateral valve ports extending from said space and exteriorly of said body; said lateral valve ports being located at dierent positions along the axis of said interior'space; a closure mounted in'and supported at said body space; said closure having an interior chamber; saidclosure having a pair of slots for the valve ports rsepectively, and commun1cating with said closure chamber, each slot being delined substantially by upper and lower intersecting planes both transverse to the axis o f the closure and diverging outwardly from each other from an area 'of intersection;

the projected lineV of intersection of said planes being apex of the wedge is spaced from the axis of the closure.

located adjacent the axis of said closure` and substantially perpendicular thereto; the said projected line of intersection being located axially beyond the lateral valve port of said body; Vsubstantially theentire space between theplanes on one side of saidintersection line being- `sealingring for each slot and mounted peripherally of the closure, and paralleling the corresponding one oblique plane for similar traverse across the corresponding lateral port; rst seal meanscooperating with one of said sealing rings to dene a sealed space on the periphery of said closure to which the corresponding lateral valve port is Yexposed when the corresponding slot is out of registry with said lateral valve port; and second seal means cooperating With one of said sealing rings to dene a sealed space on the periphery of said closure to which the correspending lateral valve port is exposed When the correport; said valve ports being so located that'angular movement of the closure affects a relative proportioning adjustment of the valve ports.

kspending slot is out of registry with said lateralvalve Y 4. The combination as set forth inl claim 3V in `which Y said closure is axially movable in the body to move the said lateral valve ports into their said sealed spaces to shut off flow irrespective of the angular position of the closure.

vthrough Aone end of the body, the cosure being removable through the other end of the body, the closure atthe end opposite its stem having a projection and said body having an arcuate groove receivingthe projection to determine limits to the angular movement to the closure.

References Cited in the fue of this patent YUNITED STATES PATENTS 560,655 Smith May 26, 1896 1,016,382 Weeden Feb. 6, 1912 1,214,267 Block Jan. 30, 1917 1,925,086 Snyder Sept. 5, 1933` V2,631,002 Mueller Mar.,10, 1953 2,766,771 Wenzel Oct. 16, 195,6 2,847,031 Brown Aug. 12, 1958 2,889,134 Bryant June 2, 1959 2,987,070 Y Fraser June 6, 1961 V2,988,107 Rudelick .lune 13, 19,61 3,066,908 Floren Dec. 4, 1962 Y FOREIGN PATENTS 10,716 Great Britain of 1899 657,056 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1951 287,969 1952 Switzerland Dec. 3l, 

1. IN A VALVE STRUCTURE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID: A VALVE BODY HAVING PROVISIONS FOR ATTACHMENT AT AN OPENING OF A MEMBER WITH ONE END OF THE BODY WITHIN THE MEMBER; SAID BODY PROVIDING AN INTERIOR SPACE OF SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION AND A LATERAL VALVE PORT EXTENDING FROM SAID SPACE EXTERIORLY OF THE BODY; A CLOSURE MOUNTED IN AND SUPPORTED AT THE INTERIOR SPACE AND HAVING AN INTERIOR CHAMBER; SAID CLOSURE HAVING A SLOT EXTENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CLOSURE TO SAID INTERIOR CHAMBER, THE SLOT BEING DEFINED SUBSTANTIALLY BY UPPER AND LOWER INTERSECTING PLANES BOTH TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF THE CLOSURE AND DIVERGING OUTWARDLY FROM EACH OTHER FROM AN AREA OF INTERSECTION; THE PROJECTED LINE OF INTERSECTION OF SAID PLANES BEING LOCATED ADJACENT THE AXIS OF SAID CLOSURE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THERETO; THE SAID PROJECTED LINE OF INTERSECTION BEING LOCATED AXIALLY BEYOND THE LATERAL VALVE PORT OF SAID BODY; SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE SPACE BETWEEEN THE PLANES ON ONE SIDE OF SAID INTERSECTION LINE BEING OPEN; ONE OF SAID PLANES BEING OBLIQUE TO THE CLOSURE AND SWEEPING ACROSS SAID LATERAL VALVE PORT AS THE CLOSURE IS ANGULARLY MOVED; AN OBLIQUE SEALING RING MOUNTED PERIPHERALLY OF THE SAID CLOSURE, AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING SAID ONE OBLIQUE PLANE FOR CORRESPONDING TRAVERSE ACROSS SAID LATERAL VALVE PORT; AND SEAL MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID SEALING RING TO DEFINE A SEALED SPACE ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CLOSURE TO WHICH SAID LATERAL VALVE PORT IS EXPOSED WHEN SAID SLOT IS OUT OF REGISTRY WITH SAID LATERAL VALVE PORT. 